3 ms·

U locks don't deter thieves at all. If they want a bike, they will get it no matter what. Almost everyone commutes on beaters for good reason. https://www.city

by city41 9y ago

U locks don't deter thieves at all. If they want a bike, they will get it no matter what. Almost everyone commutes on beaters for good reason. https://www.citylab.com/navigator/2014/10/your-u-lock-is-basically-worthless-but-dont-worry/381818/ https://www.citylab.com/navigator/2014/10/your-u-lock-is-bas...

ramy_d 9y ago
I always heard that a small U lock[1] is always better than a larger one and I never understood why. Now i know, that modified carjack is something else. [1] https://www.amazon.com/Kryptonite-Evolution-Mini-Bike-U-Lock/dp/B000AMPRG0 https://www.amazon.com/Kryptonite-Evolution-Mini-Bike-U-Lock...
- city41 9y ago
  Also just a crowbar can be used instead of that jack. Small ulocks do help. But they have their own problem: they increase the chance of you being unable to lock your bike at all. Sometimes your destination doesn't have great bike racks, and you have to make due with something a small ulock won't fit on.
vacri 9y ago
> If they want a bike, they will get it no matter what. There's a god-botherer in my city who gets old bikes, attaches a placard with how you're all going to hell if you don't let jesus into your life, and then leaves them around the city... locked with homemade steel u-bolt locks filled with concrete, so that authorities have more trouble getting rid of them. Admittedly they're not valuable bikes, but I've never heard of one being stolen...
- city41 9y ago
  I'd be willing to bet those bikes don't meet the "want" part of the equation. They sound interesting though, any links on them?
  - vacri 9y ago
    Here you go: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/a-bloke-called-barry-and-the-jesus-bikes-parked-around-melbourne-20161212-gt900p.html http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/a-bloke-called-barry-and-t...
mcv 9y ago
I believe the best locks are the heavy chains of 8 mm hardened steel. You see them everywhere. Thinner chains are easily cut, as I experienced when my son list his keys. Proper ring locks are also impossible to cut, but they only lock the rear wheel and don't lock the bike to an object, so it can still be carried away.

by city41 9y ago

ramy_d 9y ago

I always heard that a small U lock[1] is always better than a larger one and I never understood why. Now i know, that modified carjack is something else. [1] https://www.amazon.com/Kryptonite-Evolution-Mini-Bike-U-Lock/dp/B000AMPRG0 https://www.amazon.com/Kryptonite-Evolution-Mini-Bike-U-Lock...

city41 9y ago
Also just a crowbar can be used instead of that jack. Small ulocks do help. But they have their own problem: they increase the chance of you being unable to lock your bike at all. Sometimes your destination doesn't have great bike racks, and you have to make due with something a small ulock won't fit on.

vacri 9y ago

> If they want a bike, they will get it no matter what. There's a god-botherer in my city who gets old bikes, attaches a placard with how you're all going to hell if you don't let jesus into your life, and then leaves them around the city... locked with homemade steel u-bolt locks filled with concrete, so that authorities have more trouble getting rid of them. Admittedly they're not valuable bikes, but I've never heard of one being stolen...

city41 9y ago
I'd be willing to bet those bikes don't meet the "want" part of the equation. They sound interesting though, any links on them?
- vacri 9y ago
  Here you go: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/a-bloke-called-barry-and-the-jesus-bikes-parked-around-melbourne-20161212-gt900p.html http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/a-bloke-called-barry-and-t...

mcv 9y ago

I believe the best locks are the heavy chains of 8 mm hardened steel. You see them everywhere. Thinner chains are easily cut, as I experienced when my son list his keys. Proper ring locks are also impossible to cut, but they only lock the rear wheel and don't lock the bike to an object, so it can still be carried away.